All-Optical Vacuum Birefringence with PW-Class Lasers: Case Study for the ELI-NP Parameters

Abstract

Abstract In this paper we discuss the possibility of vacuum birefringence detection via all-optical, interferometric schemes. ELI-NP’s laser parameters are employed, hence the pump is considered to be a 10 PW laser while the probe is a much weaker one (∼ GW to TW). We assess two collision geometries and deduce the ideal probe pulse duration. We then go on and discuss the output signal of a balanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer and also propose two technically feasible experimental setups.